Sustainability in operations

REDUCING OUR IMPACT

REDUCING OUR IMPACT

In the air

The greatest proportion of our carbon emissions come from the consumption of jet fuel, so our selection of aircraft and how we operate present the best opportunities for reducing our environmental impact. And with jet fuel comprising one of our largest areas of expenditure, fuel efficiency is essential to every part of the business. Full details of our fuel efficiency, emissions and noise performance can be viewed in the Emirates Group Environmental Report.

Aircraft

Emirates’ policy of investing in the most modern, eco-efficient technology available means we have one of the youngest fleets in the industry. The environmental benefits of operating a modern wide-body fleet include both reduced noise and lower engine emissions. All of our aircraft are fully compliant with the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Chapter 4 noise standards (this excludes a small number of wet-leased freighters) – and meet the applicable ICAO engine emission standards. Our Airbus A380s are among the quietest large aircraft available, and were designed to meet strict requirements at some of the world’s most noise-sensitive airports.

Emirates Engineering ensures that our aircraft are performing at their optimum level at all times. And our engine washing procedures keep internal engine components clean, maintaining fuel-efficient performance and prolonging the useful life of the engine. We also regularly clean our aircraft with a water-saving ‘drywash’ procedure, which uses a small amount of cleaning agent applied with cloths.

This procedure saves thousands of litres of water each wash, and having a clean aircraft exterior helps to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by making the aircraft lighter and more aerodynamic. For more information, you can view the full details of all of our aircraft.

Operations

Saving fuel inflight begins with planning on the ground. We’ve invested in one of the best flight planning systems available, to carefully plan flights and optimise routes based on each day’s weather conditions, airspace constraints and the specific aircraft allocated for each sector. Once airborne, our flight crew take advantage of opportunities to save fuel and emissions where practicable and supported by air traffic control.

Examples include continuous climbs and descents, and inflight rerouting on long-haul flights to take into account shifting winds. On landing, our pilots use idle reverse thrust (instead of full reverse thrust) and switch off one engine while taxiing where it is safe and practicable to do so. We prioritise the use of ground power and pre-conditioned air where it is available so that the aircraft’s auxiliary power unit – a small jet turbine located at the rear of the aircraft – can be switched off. All of these measures help to save fuel and emissions, as well as to cut down on noise.

Emirates is supportive of efforts around the world to improve the efficiency of air traffic management and to provide more flexibility on flight routes. Our flight operations specialists collaborate with air traffic control organisations internationally to deliver more efficient routes and operational procedures, applying the latest in technology to support these enhancements.

Our Economy Class blankets on long-haul flights are made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. Each ecoTHREAD™ blanket is made from 28 bottles, which have been chipped, spun into yarn, and woven into the soft, warm and sustainable blankets. Using these blankets both prevents the plastic bottles ending up in landfill, and saves energy and emissions in the manufacturing process compared with using new plastic materials.

Cutting down on unnecessary weight carried helps us to save fuel. For example, we use lightweight cargo containers, and optimise the amount of potable water loaded for each flight based on the planned passenger load and distance to fly.

Biofuel

Emirates spends billions of US dollars on fuel each year, so naturally we are monitoring the development of biofuel technology with great interest. We look forward to the development of biofuels that are technically safe, cost competitive, and truly sustainable, with a viable supply chain in place from feedstock to the aircraft.

On the ground

We have a wide-ranging programme of initiatives on the ground to enhance our energy and resource efficiency, make use of renewable energy, and recycle used materials. Full details of our strategies and results can be viewed in the Emirates Group Environmental Report.

Electricity

Dubai’s abundant sunshine helps to power our state-of-the-art Engine Maintenance Centre, where we installed a one megawatt array of solar photovoltaic panels. The 2,990 panels form a roof over the carpark, and are expected to generate in excess of 1,800 megawatt-hours of electricity and save around 800 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year. We’ve also been installing light emitting diode (LED) lights across our facilities, saving large amounts of electricity – with the LED lights in the Emirates SkyCargo terminal at Dubai World Central (DWC) saving over 970 MWh of electricity a year.

Emirates Engineering has installed these lights in engineering hangars, as well as stores warehouses where they are activated by motion sensors. This team is also using LED lights for aircraft cabin maintenance – where they have the added advantage of being much cooler than the lights they replaced. Their combined initiatives are saving more than 2,850 MWh of electricity a year. Lastly, our refurbished London office features LED lighting, upgraded air conditioning, and a more efficient use of floor space, resulting in a reduction of 60 percent in electricity consumption.

Reducing, reusing, recycling

Our business units are constantly on the lookout for opportunities to reduce resource consumption, repurpose items, and recycle materials when they reach the end of their life – all essential aspects of a circular economy.

The Information Technology department implemented a Think Before You Print campaign, which achieved a 33 percent drop in print volumes in just eight months, saving millions of sheets of paper and over 2 million kWh of electricity.

Even retired aircraft fittings can be reused. The Flight Training Facilities department sources a range of items from Emirates Engineering when aircraft interiors are being upgraded. In one project, they acquired a set of seats from a retiring Airbus A340-500 and modified them to fit two emergency evacuation cabin simulators and two cabin service training simulators. The project extended the lifetime of the seats by another five to seven years, and saved the company the cost of 50 new seats.

Emirates Flight Catering is one of the world’s largest airline catering firms, and they run a recycling programme to match the scale of their operation. Their programme diverts a wide range of materials from landfill, including paper and cardboard, aluminium foil and cans, and plastic bottles and containers, much of which is collected from our aircraft after their arrival in Dubai.

Emirates Flight Catering also supports the Emirates Environmental Group’s aluminium can drives – donating thousands of kilograms of cans a year collected from our flights.

They’ve introduced more fuel efficient vehicles, optimised trip planning to reduce the number of routes served and number of empty trips, and trained drivers on safe and efficient driving practices, including avoidance of unnecessary engine idling. Their efforts have seen them receive several awards for sustainable transport in Dubai.